A federal appeals court has overturned President Obamas controversial recess appointments from last year, arguing he abused his powers and acted when the Senate was not actually in a recess.

The three-judge panels ruling is a major blow to Mr. Obama. The judges ruled that the appointments Mr. Obama made to the National Labor Relations Board are illegal, and the board no longer has a quorum to operate.

But the ruling has even broader constitutional significance, with the judges arguing that the presidents recess appointment powers dont apply to intrasession appointments  those made when Congress has left town for a few days or weeks.

The judges signaled the power only applies after Congress has adjourned sine die, which is a legislative term of art that signals the end to a long work period. In modern times, it means the president could only use his powers when Congress quits business at the end of a year.

Anybody want to start a betting pool on how long it will take before Pennsylvania’s nitwit senior senator Bob Casey, Jr. comes out in favor of allowing Der Furhrer to make appointments without congressional approval ....

Casey can become a real hero of the Democratic Party if he broadens his bill to let Sen. Bob Menendez (he's on Senate Foreign Relations -- no, really!) off the hook for partying with underage Dominican teeny ho's.

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